Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen undergoes surgery, out for season

The 32-year-old German international sustained the injury during Barcelona's emphatic 5-1 La Liga win over Villarreal, falling awkwardly before being stretchered off the pitch at Estadio de la Ceramica.

In a statement, the club confirmed, "Ter Stegen has a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee."

Following the surgery, Barcelona pledged to provide updates on his recovery process.

The injury came on the heels of a disappointing performance in the Champions League, where Ter Stegen faced criticism after a mistake contributed to Barcelona's 2-1 defeat at Monaco.

Coach Hansi Flick expressed concern for his captain, noting, "I think it will be a huge injury. When he lay down on the field, you could see it directly."

In Ter Stegen's absence, Inaki Pena stepped in as the first-choice goalkeeper.

While Flick refrained from discussing potential transfer options for a replacement, he emphasised the importance of Ter Stegen's presence in the team: "He's our captain and a very important player for us."

Ter Stegen had recently represented Germany in two Nations League matches, following the retirement of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

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